We, the residents and community members of Shawnee, respectfully request that the speed limit on West 77th Street, particularly between Mize Road and the dead end of West 77th Street, be reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph.

The current speed limit is unsafe given the size, grade, and condition of this road. West 77th Street is regularly used by residents, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, and drivers entering or leaving nearby homes. However, it has no sidewalks or designated space for pedestrians.

Limited visibility, numerous residential driveways, a complete lack of shoulders, deep roadside ditches, inconsistent and undersized road width, steep grades, and vehicles traveling faster than the posted limit make this section especially dangerous.

Near coordinates 38.988983, -94.894789, there is a hill where reckless drivers reportedly accelerate to high speeds before crossing its crest. This behavior has caused serious crashes involving bodily injury, property damage, and death. The location is commonly referred to by local police and students at the nearby high school—as “Death Hill.”

This location has unfortunately become a rallying cry for reckless drivers who use this section of road to test themselves and their vehicles at dangerously high speeds. The city should take action to discourage this behavior before another person is injured or killed.

Shawnee PD is frequently called about dangerous driving on West 77th Street. However, officers have acknowledged that the traffic division is understaffed. Because a driver can travel through this stretch of road and leave the area within only a few minutes, officers are often unable to arrive in time to witness the violation or intervene. Enforcement alone is therefore not sufficient; preventive measures, including a lower speed limit, improved signage, and traffic-calming features.

Reducing the speed limit to 25 mph would give responsible drivers more time to react on an already hazardous road and could reduce the likelihood and severity of collisions and pedestrian injuries. 

We ask the Shawnee City Council and appropriate city departments to:

-Reduce the posted speed limit on this section of West 77th Street from 35 mph to 25 mph.
-Conduct a comprehensive traffic, roadway, and pedestrian-safety study of the area.
-Install appropriate additional traffic-calming measures to encourage drivers to slow down.
-Direct the appropriate city officials to coordinate targeted speed enforcement along this dangerous section of road.

Residents should not have to wait for another serious injury or death before action is taken. Please act now to make this road safer for everyone who lives, walks, bicycles, or drives in this community.

Sign this petition to support reducing the speed limit on West 77th Street from 35 mph to 25 mph.